SWINDON Robins powered their way to a comfortable 50-40 victory at home to King’s Lynn Stars as they lifted themselves off the foot of the SGB Premiership table by claiming all three points at the Abbey Stadium.

On a night dominated by false starts, plenty of tied heats and Rasmus Jensen brilliance, Alun Rossiter’s Robins eventually proved too strong for their struggling counterparts and claimed a win that featured a series of strong performances from almost every rider.

Troy Batchelor claimed a paid maximum thanks to 14+1 from his five rides, while Rasmus Jensen – who was making his first official appearance at the Abbey – picked up 11 courtesy of some classic Danish bravery and daredevil moves.

Ellis Perks also deserves a mention for a contribution of 8+1, something that has been badly missing from the Robins’ reserve riders in the opening segment of the season.

Perks held off former British champion Robert Lambert in heat 11 to claim a memorable 5-1 alongside Troy Batchelor and almost repeated the feat in heat 14, only to be passed as the visitors stole a 4-2.

Captain Jason Doyle collected 10+2, Adam Ellis had a difficult night and only managed 4+1 while guest reserve Paul Starke chipped in with 3+1.

Tobiasz Musielak was still missing for the home side, therefore rider replacement shared his rides, while Jensen featured at three, and Ellis Perks and Paul Starke slotted in at reserve in a new-look Robins line up.

The meeting began in fine style as Jason Doyle claimed his maiden win for the night while Paul Starke claimed a valuable third.

A quintet of 3-3 heats followed as both sets of riders struggled to make any early passing – the only exception to the rule was Jensen’s early blast around the outside of Ty Proctor and Thomas Jorgensen in heat three.

Batchelor claimed a new track record in heat four, only to see it broken immediately after as Robert Lambert headed up a 3-3 with a time of 61.18 in heat five.

The meeting’s referee, Dave Watters, seemed intent on holding the riders at the gate just a fraction longer than both teams were used to, resulting in a series of re-runs due to early movement.

The red lights came on in heats three, five, six and seven due to early movement, however, both sets of riders seemed to calm down for the remainder of the meeting as that situation never happened again.

Heat six featured a delightful move from both Swindon riders to pick up a dominant 5-1 and create some fresh air in the scoreline.

The Stars’ classy reserve rider, Nico Covatti got out well to reach turn two in first, but Ellis and Doyle split the Italian around the inside and outside respectively before charging on to take a comfortable 5-1.

The seventh heat featured the race of the night - Batchelor completely missed the start, perhaps wary of another red light in the re-run, but made up for it by reeling Proctor in and finally taking him on the start-finish line before the final lap.

Proctor regained the lead up the back-straight before the gutsy Australian went high, wide and dived back down the inside to take the heat win on the line in fine style.

The Robins six-point lead did not last too long however, as Jensen and Starke were beaten out of the gate by Covatti and Jensen’s fellow Dane, Michael Palm Toft – Jensen later revealed losing to his fellow countryman particularly irked him.

Jensen would have the last laugh though due to two consecutive heat advantages for his new Robins teammates.

Doyle and Starke claimed another 4-2 before the excitement and shock of Perks’ dominant victory in heat 11.

And while Doyle and Batchelor were set for a decisive 5-1 in heat 13 before Doyle’s exclusion for inadvertently colliding with Lambert, they would finally cross the line together in heat 15 to cap off a near-perfect home performance for Rossiter’s men.